PANJIM, MARCH 24
Even three years after the government approving the project and making budgetary allocation, work on the modern central jail at Colvale is yet to begin due to the outdated estimates of the Public Works Department.
As the Central jails at Aguada, Sada and the other police lock-ups had crossed its capacity of housing the prisoners and also taking into consideration the security aspect the government had decided to have a modern jail with all modern technology support.
For the year 2008-2009, a total of Rs 10.46 crore provision for the Rs 51.26 crore project (excluding the cost of land) was also made in the Budget towards Construction of New Central Jail at Colvale, Bardez.
The project was to be completed by the end of 2010 in phased manner.
However, even three years after it approval, the project is actually a non-starter, leaving aside the land acquisition and some ancillary works.
When contacted PWD Chief Engineer II J J S Rego told Herald that the works for the project were tendered twice but the bids were two high.
“When the tenders were first floated, the bids were 97 per cent above the estimated amount after which the Works Advisory Board ordered it to be re-tendered,” Rego said adding “This time again it was 52 per cent above the estimates.”
Asked why the bids were on higher side, Rego replied, “the estimates for the project were done in 2008 and there has been tremendous increase in prices.
“The material, the labour, fuel and Excise tax all have almost doubled,” he said.
The chief engineer said that the PWD would take a decision on the matter soon taking into consideration hike in prices of material and labour.
He, however, said that the ancillary works like the retaining wall and six light towers have already been completed.
Rego said the periphery works of gutters, gardening etc is also being carried out.
The modern jail is being constructed along the National Highway 17 on a land admeasuring 40,000 sq mt. The built up area is 19,675 sq mt.
The jail will have 19 blocks and would house 540 inmates as against 266 at Aguada.
The specialty of the jail is it will have a separate women enclosure with separate entry and exit exclusively for women prisoners and female guarding staff.
Besides, it will have a 24 meter high chakkar block at the centre and a ground.
The government planned the Colvale jail project since the existing Central jail at Aguada, housed in a Portuguese-constructed old fort, was discovered not suitable for jail security.
